Brazil’s Empty Flight Home After World Cup Exit Draws Presidential Scorn
President Lula da Silva expressed ‘shame’ that only one player returned on the official flight after the round-of-16 loss to Norway, as the CBF’s resilience video drew ridicule.
Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a 2-1 round-of-16 defeat to Norway, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to eliminate the five-time champions. The result, viewed from European football centres, was the latest in a series of early exits against continental opponents and marked Brazil’s first elimination at this stage in 36 years. The loss extended a title drought that now stretches back to 2002, leaving the Seleção without a World Cup triumph for a generation.
The aftermath of the match provoked a political and public outcry after only one member of the 26-man squad, Flamengo defender Danilo, joined the coaching staff on the official chartered flight back to Rio de Janeiro. The remaining players dispersed to holiday destinations or returned directly to their European clubs. Speaking at a technology institute in São Paulo on Monday, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gave voice to the national mood. ‘Almost no one to put on the national team’s plane. What a shame! Only one player returned,’ he said, adding that had the team won, ‘everyone would be dancing here.’ He later joked that a student-built robot ‘hits like Haaland’ and could be hired to win the World Cup.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) attempted to manage the fallout with a video titled ‘Pode Acreditar’ (You Can Believe), released a day before Lula’s remarks. The film acknowledged the pain of the tunnel that ‘seems to have no end’ and called for faith in the next cycle. The response on social media was overwhelmingly negative, and Romeu Zema, a pre-candidate for the presidency, accused the federation of ‘politicagem’ and a ‘dirty party.’ The backlash contrasted sharply with the CBF’s pre-tournament marketing, which had included a lavish squad announcement at Rio’s Museum of Tomorrow featuring concerts and a theatrical production.
Analysts in South America note that the empty plane has become a symbol of a deeper disconnect between the national team and its public. The CBF now faces a crisis of credibility as it prepares for the long road to the 2030 qualifiers. Coach Carlo Ancelotti and federation president Samir Xaud are under intense scrutiny, with the next concrete step being the resumption of South American qualifying, where Brazil must rebuild both its squad and its relationship with a disillusioned fan base.
| Iranian & allied press | −0.80 | critical |
|---|---|---|
| Latin American press | −0.50 | critical |
| Russian & CIS press | 0.00 | neutral |
Iran mocks the Brazilian team's failure and its coach, implicitly siding with the critics.
It uses Lula's quote to ridicule the entire delegation, amplifying the contrast between the large arrival and the solitary return.
It omits that Lula criticized the entire team, not just the coach, and that his comment was directed at the players who did not return.
President Lula condemns the seleção's attitude, siding with outraged fans and using his authority to legitimize the criticism.
It reports Lula's words with emphasis, using his presidential authority to create an opposition between patriotic duty and players' individualism.
It omits any justification from the players or CBF, presenting the criticism as unanimous.
Russia reports the facts dispassionately, taking no side, merely citing Lula's criticism and the historical elimination data.
It uses a chronicle tone and statistical data (first quarterfinal elimination in 36 years) to objectify the news, avoiding judgments.
It omits the domestic Brazilian political context and fan reactions, focusing only on the bare fact of the defeat and presidential criticism.
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